Practice bowling attachment for an automatic pinsetting machine



June 21, 1966 R. LA RUE WEBB 3,257,112

PRACTICE BOWLING ATTACHMENT FOR AN AUTOMATIC PINSETTING MACHINE 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed 001.. 5, 1962 INVENTOR.

RICHARD L. WEBB June 21, 1966 R. LA RUE WEBB 3,257,112

PRACTICE BOWLING ATTACHMENT FOR AN AUTOMATIC PINSETTING ACHINE Filed 001,- 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 PRIOR. A R 7 PRIOR ART June 21, 1966 R. LA RUE WEBB 3,257,112

PRACTICE BOWLING ATTACHMENT FOR AN AUTOMATIC PINSETTING MACHINE Filed 001.. 5, 1962 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

RICHARD L. WEBB United States Patent Ice 3,257,112 PRACTICE BOWLING ATTACHMENT FOR AN AUTOMATIC PINSETTING MACHINE Richard La Rue Webb, RD. 3, Norwich, N.Y. Filed Oct. 5, 1962, Ser. No. 228,660 8 Claims. (Cl. 273-43) This invention relates generally to bowling apparatus and more particularly to a novel apparatus for operating a pinsetting machine to provide a practice or so-called shadow ball operation wherein the bowler practices without pins on the alley.

More particularly this invention relates to an attachment device and a controlcircuit therefor to be coupled to an existing automatic pinsetter machine which will establish a special sequence of operation for such pinsetter so that practice balls may be rolled without pins and without the normal cyclic operation and the attendant wear thereto.

Specifically this invention relates to an attachment device arranged to operate a pinsetter machinefor practice bowling in which the machine operates automatically to first clear the alley of pins, raise the protective rake to a normal bowling position and also raise the pit cushion to allow an unrestricted return of any number of practice balls rolled, and to finally cycle the machine to its normal position resetting ten pins on the alley in readiness prior art. While it has been known to perform practice bowling on automatic pinsetting machines in the past, the schemes utilized have involved the presence of an attendant in the pit area to either physically cycle the machine, or to remove the pins and/or place the ball on the ball return track, or'to set certain over-riding controls.

From the viewpoint of the practice bowler, such prior art expedients have been less than satisfactory in subjecting him to factors such as inadequate lighting, undue time delay for the ball return or for machine cycling, a restricted number of practice balls which might be rolled, or various combinations of such factors.

Also, from the viewpoint of the bowling alley operator the prior methods for permitting practice balls to be rolled have been undesirable. The uncontrolled rolling of practice balls on a normal pinsetter causes constant wear on the pins, cycling of the machine and consequent wear, and operation of the cycle counter; while the various known prior expedients involving the presence of a pit attendant have been uneconomical.

Accordingly, the main object of the present invention is to provide an attachment which permits a practice bowling operation on automatic pinsetting machines with all of the advantages and none of the disadvantages outlined above. t a

An important object of this invention is to provide'a control system for the actuation of a practice bowling attachment employing remote electrical switch means.

Another important object of this invention -is to provide a practice bowling attachment device which may be installed quickly and simply onexisting automatic pin setting machines by anyone skilled in the art with a mini mum number of minor adjustments.

Other important objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course of the fol lowing description.

3,257,112 Patented June 21, 1966 In the drawings I have shown one embodiment of the invention. In this showing:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of a portion of an automatic pinsetter and the alley bed with which it cooperates, showing one element of the attachment device;

FIGURES 2 and 3 are fragmentary side elevational views to an enlarged scale showing the details of an automatic pinsetting machine of the type shown in FIG. 1 but without the practice bowling attachment as they are positioned at certain portions of the machine cycle;

FIGURES 4 and 5 are corresponding fragmentary side elevational views to the same enlarged scale showing the details of an automatic pinsetting machine as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, respectively, wherein an element of the attachment device has been incorporated into the machine;

6-6 in FIG. 5;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary side elevational view of the mechanism shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 as it is positioned for the rolling of a practice ball;

FIGURE 8 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional view of a control mechanism located in the upper part of an automatic pinsetting machine showing another element of the attachment device applied thereto as the machine is positioned for practice bowling; and

FIGURE 9 is a schematic diagram illustrating the additional electrical circuit of the practice bowling attachment associatedwith the wiring arrangement of an automatic pinsetting machine.

Referring to the drawings, a preferred installation is shown in FIG. 1 wherein pit cushion hold plates 1000 and other associated elements of the practice ball attachment are mounted on a Brunswick Automatic Pinset-ter as described in the Service Manual for this machine as revised in October, 1957 and published by the Brunswick- Balke-Collender Company of Paramus, New Jersey. Further specific details of portions of this machine are covered in the Gear Box Manual and the Detector Manual of this company. This pinsetting machine is described and claimed in varying detail in one or more of the following Letters Patent: William F. Huck and Alexander J. Albrecht, 2,967,708; William F. Huck, Alexander J. Albrecht and David P. Sanford, 2,946,591, 2,949,300 and 2,973,204.

Since the normal pinsetting and operating cycles of this machine are unchanged by this invention, except for the practice bowling mode of operation, a complete description of its operation in general will not be offered herein, but may be found fully described in the abovecited manuals and US. patents, which are thus incorporated by reference herein.

In order to aid those skilled in the art to better understand the present invention as applied to the Brunswick machine, the following description will employ the accepted terminology of the aforementioned manuals and patents, and where convenient and practical the reference numerals used in US. Patents 2,946,591, 2,949,300 and 2,967,708 will be applied to similar elements illustrated herein. Reference numerals identifying elements unique to the attachment of this invention are numbered in a series commencing with 1000.

Briefly, the Brunswick Automatic Pinsetter, a portion of which is shown in FIG. 1, is a two-ball ten pin machine which is associated with a bowling alley having an alley bed 1, a pit area 2 at the rear of the alley bed and side walls or kickbacks at opposite sides of the alley bed.

The automatic pinsetting machine comprises several components. A pit conveyor, indicated generally at A is located in the .pit 2 and directs bowling pins and a bowl- FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary view taken along the line I ing ball toward the rear of the pit wherein a ball elevating mechanism elevates the ball from the rear of the pit to a track which then delivers the ball to the return track located on top of one kickback and the adjacent kickback of another alley. Bowling pins are separately elevated from the rear of the pit by a pin elevating mechanism from which they move in succession into pockets in a turret.

A pinsetting and resetting deck, which may be lowered toward the alley, is located beneath the turret. A rake, indicated generally at J, is mounted at the front of the machine and is cycled to function as a guard when in the dotted position and to sweep pins into the pit at the desired time during .the cycling of the machine.

An upwardly-movable pit cushion, indicated generally at K, is disposed above the pit conveyor to receive the impact of a rolled ball and flying pins and functions to prevent the passage of a ball to the rear thereof when in its lower position and also to initiate operation of the machine upon movement thereof caused by the impact of a ball. A control center comprises mechanical components which control the operation of the machine and is located generally above the pin deck.

A fixed framework extends above the alley at each side thereof and includes a tube 93 extending transversely of the alley. Upper ends of certain frame members support a transverse rod 102 and stubs 161 and 1103 upon which parts are rotatably mounted.

The pinsetting and resetting deck is supported in a parallelogram manner by means including the upper drivearms 1115, one of which is shown in fragment in' FIG. 1. 4

Downwardly-e'xtending rods 115 at each side of the machine are integral with a sleeve 115a pivotally mounted on stubs 103 for oscillating movement. The rods 115 pivotally support arm-s 116 at their lower ends and arms 116 have a rake board 117 extending therebetween and transversely of the alley.

An extensible housing 118 extends rearwardly from each of the rods 115 to a fixed pivot 119. A spring (not shown) within housing 11% functions as a counterbalance (for both the pin deck and the rake J and urges the rake arms 115 against stops on the upper framework.

The raising and lowering movement of the rake board 117 is caused by corresponding movement of a rod 125 at each side of the machine which extends upwardly and engages with a bell crank 126 at each side of the machine which cranks are interconnected by a sleeve rotatably mounted on the stubs 101, and pivoting of the bell cranks is caused by movement of an arm 127 secured to such sleeve.

The arm 127 is connected to a rod 128 by a pin 128a which is shifted by a cam and follower mechanism described hereinafter to control the raising and lowering of the rake board 117.

A connecting link 130 at each side of the mechanism connects between a slotted clevis arm 131 of the bell crank 126 at the upper link end, and at the lower link end to pairs of generally triangularly shaped plates 1000 which are readily identified by the three pivot points 10112, 1004 and shown in FIGS. 2-7.

The pit cushion K includes a pad 135 connected between vertically=exten-ding bars 136 located at opposite sides of the alley and which pivotally connect to the plates 10%. An apron 137 is draped downwardly from a cross piece 138 extending between the kickbacks and the lower end of the apron is secured near the top of the pit cushion. Each of the bars 136 has a dashpot 138a connected thereto which extends forwardly and upwardly and connects .to a bracket connected to the frame members. The nearer bar 136, looking at FIG. 1, has a rod 139 connected to the upper part thereof which has its upper end bent toward the center line of the machine which connects with a link 140 in a clutch operating mechanism so that engagement ofa ball with the pit cushion causes pivoting of the pit cushion and its supporting framework about the plate 1000 and shifting of the rod 140 so as to cause engagement of a driving clutch as more fully described hereinafter. The connecting link 130 between the bell crank 126 and the plate 1600 operates to cause raising of the pit cushion when the rake board 117 is lowered to the alley bed and to cause lowering of the pit cushion when the rake board is elevated. The plate 1000 is pivotally mounted on a V-shaped frame member 141 extending upwardly at an angle from .the frame shaft 99. The members 125, 126, 130, 11100 and 136 are provided at both sides of the machine.

The rake J is moved from its guard position in front of the machine and on the alley bed toward the pit and back to its guard position in a sweeping operation by a crank link 142 which is pivotally connected at one end to an oscillating grab member 143 which is pivotally mounted on a pin 143a carried in a bracket on the sleeve 115a. The grab member 143 carries a catch member which may be engaged by a latch to cause the rake to move with the crank link 142. The latch 145, not here shown, is pivotally mounted on a pair of arms 146 which are connected to the rake support sleeve 115a on the left side of .the machine looking toward the rear thereof. The engagement or non-engagement of the latch with the catch member is determined by a spring which normally urges the latch into engaging position with the catch member and a link which determines the effectiveness of the spring. The link is pivoted to an arm of a bell crank and the other arm thereof carries a roller in position to engage with a crescent-shaped lever 153 which is connected to a sleeve ro-tatab'ly mounted on the frame shaft 162. The rotative position of this sleeve and the crescentshaped lever 153 is determined by a link 155 which is operated by cam and follower mechanism described hereinafter.

The crank link 142 is pivotally connected to a crank 156 by a pin 157 and is driven by a shaft 158, which is geared in a four-to-one ratio to power the rake sweep motion in order to complete the sweep in one-quarter or 90-degrees of machine cycle. I

A clutch and drive mechanism whose operation is directed by the control center functions through a gear box arrangement to rotate shaft 158 a predetermined number of revolutions for each normal machine cycle. Various crank arm linkages other than those outlined above are included in the pinsetting machine mechanism, including certain trigger arm linkages one of which includes a pin I slida'bly mounted in a slot located in the right-hand direction along the link (at a location not shown in FIG. 1), and is thus connected to the rod 139 which extends upwardly from pit cushion K.

The action of the above-indicated clutch, drive, control center, gear box, crank arm, and trigger arm linkages are fully described in the Huck et al. Patent No. 2,949,300 to which reference may be made for the several normal cyclic operations incident to a two-ball bowling program. As outlined hereinafter, certain cyclic operations are altered or blocked when the practice bowling attachment is actuated.

For the purpose of a general understanding of the operation and apparatus of the attachment device of the present invention reference will now be made to FIGS. 2-7.

Turning first to FIGS. 2 and 3, the existing link plates 132 of the Brunswick pinsetter are shown in two of the cyclic positions which they assume during normal operation of the automatic pinsetting machine when it has not been modified by the attachment of the invention. As will be evident from FIG. 1, and FIGS. 4-7 which are described below, when the attachment device of this invention is utilized the link plates 132 are to be replaced with plates 1000 which may function in the normal'pivotal linkage fashion for regular bowling, or may additionally function as pit cushion hold up plates when practice bowling is desired.

FIG. 2 shows the pinsetter at rest position, degrees of machine cycle, awaiting the rolling of a first ball. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, or by reference to the above identified Huck et al. Patent No. 2,949,300, the pit cushion arm 136 is down at rest with cushion 135 lowered fully within the pit to absorb the impact of a rolled ball; ten pins are positioned on alley 1; connecting link 130 is retracted or pulled down to the left at pivot 1002 so as to maintain the rake mechanism I in the raised position via elements 126 and 125; all as shown in their full line positions in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows the pinsetter at a position of 90 degrees of machine cycle; assuming a ball to have been rolled and hit the pit'cushion K to cycle the machine through the cushion supporting bar 136, rod 139, link 140, and the trigger linkage. At this cycle position rake board 117 is fully lowered with respect to the alley bed by cam and cam follower mechanisms which connect to the link 128, previously referred to,'and allow the clockwise rotation of It will be remembered that there are two V-shaped frame members 141 extending upwardly from transverse frame member 99, one on either side of the alley, and each supports a transverse pivot 1006. Therefore there are four original triangular plates 132 which carry the pivots 1002 and 1004; one pair of plates 132 at either 9 side of the alley.

According to the invention plates 132 are replaced by the specially shapedplates 1000 which, together with a leftand right-hand solenoid mechanism S which is secured to frame members 141, may be positioned so as to hold pit cushion K elevated for the return of practice balls rolled.

The solenoid mechanism S, generally indicated in FIGS. 1 and 4, is revealed in greater details at FIGS. -7. In FIG. 5 a portion of the nearest plate 1000 has been broken away to show the solenoid frame 1008 having an integral attachment element 1010 by means of which the mechanism S is secured to frame member 141 by any convenient means, such as the clamp'screw 1012. A solenoid coil 1014 is positioned at the upper end of frame 1008, and

1016 is adapted to be drawn upwardly into the body of coil 1014 when the latter is energized from any convenient source of electricity available from the pinsetter. As an example, either 24 volts or 110 volts may be obtained directly from the machine and solenoid energizing wires (not shown) may be dressed over the frame member 141 so as to avoid any moving elements.

A transverse cross bar 1018 is secured to the armature 1016 and made integral therewith by welding or other convenient means. Cross bar 1018 is of generally rectangular section, and in a preferred embodiment consists of a two inch length of A x /2"steel. The cross bar is of sufficient length, as shown in FIG. 6, to extend slightly beyond the outer edges of the paired plates 1000.

A conventional adjustable stop element 1020 may be provided to limit the de-energized position of armature 1016, and a return spring 1022 may be included; both as illustrated in FIG. 5 and well known in the art.

Plates 1000 are shaped to include an integral downwardly extending ear portion 1024 which includes a latching notch 1026 for cooperation with the cross bar 1018.

It will now be apparent that the solenoid mechanism S, in conjunction with the specially contoured substitute pivot plate members 1000 may be utilized to provide one desired feature of the shadow ball or practice bowling mode of operation of an automatic pinsetting machine. Other attachment mechanisms described below are necessary in order to complete the required combination of elements which will fully prepare the pinsetter for practice bowling upon the actuation of a remote electrical control switch. However, it will be seen that energization of the two solenoid coils 1014 when the pinsetter is at a position of degrees of machine cycle (FIG. 5) will causethe cross bars 1018 at either side of the alley to rise into a position which will block the lowering of pit cushion K on the support arms 136 as the pinsetter progresses further through the machine cycle.

The resultant relationship which is produced at the pinsetter at 180 degrees of machine cycle with the pit cushion K and'rake I both held in a raised position is shown in FIG. 7. The machine has permitted plates 1000 to pivot counterclockwise about pivots 1006 when the bell cranks 126 were driven counterclockwise. Howeverthe' energized solenoids have placed cross bars 1018 in a position to latch with notches 1026 and block further return rotation of plates 1000. Due to the slotted clevis means 131 which act as lost-mention devices, links and cushion supports 136 remain at nearly their furthest upward stroke positions, while permitting the full counterclockwise return of the driven bell cranks 126. This results in sufficient elevation of cushion element 135 to permit the passage of thrown balls thereunder, with supports 136 and coupled elements 130431 as shown in dotted line position in FIG. 1, while the rake 117 and coupled elements 125 will be as shown in full lines in FIG. 1.

A controlled means capable of raking off any upstanding pins and then preventing the resetting of any pins on the alley is necessary to order to complete the practice ball bowling arrangement of the invention.

FIG. 8 shows one method of obtaining such required pin removal with the Brunswick Automatic Pinsetter. FIG. 8 follows FIGS. 7A and 13 of Huck et al. US. Patent No. 2,942,300 and like reference numerals have been applied to designate similar elements of the pinsetting machine. However it will be noted in the following description that-the several carns, linkages, levers, and latch elements will occupy different positions from those normally assumed during a machine cycle, under the influence of a unique practice ball solenoid control system of this invention.

While the nomenclature of the above-identified Huck et al. patent is followed; where an equivalent terminology as established by the Brunswick manuals and craftsmen working on such equipment exists, such latter terminology will also be indicated where possible by indicating such equivalent terms in quotation marks.

. The control center of the pinsettingrnachine is constituted by latch and lever mechanisms disposed about a shaft 181, which shaft extends outwardly as viewed in FIG. 8 from a gear box housing (not shown) which is located above the alley and the upper drive-arms 105 (FIG. 1) for the pinsetting deck, and various cams keyed to said shaft as well as a detector disc 432 which is rotatably mounted on the hub of a detector cam 444 which is keyed to the shaft 181. The control center also includes a re-set cam 449 keyed to shaft 181 adjacent the opposite side of cam 444, but not visible in the drawing figure.

Shaft 181 is located centrally with respect to a detector mounting assembly plate 422., The detector disc 432 which is concentric with shaft 181 has two series of notches on its periphery, which include notches 450 and 451 having a masking section 453 therebetween. Such notches and masking section operate in conjunction with a new set latch lever 454 which is pivotally mounted on a B shaft 455 which extends normal to the mounting plate 422. A new set latch 458 is associated with the new set latch lever 454 and is also rotatably mounted on the B shaft 455. Extensions 459 and 460 of the latch lever 454 and the latch 458, respectively extend to opposite sides of the shaft 118 and are held in normally abutting relation by a spring. A further tension spring, not shown for purposes of clarity, extends downwardly from extension 459 to a fixed point on plate 323 to urge the latch lever 454 counterclockwise toward the shaft 181. This latch lever has a cam follower nose at its end which is positionable for selective engagement with a further cam and disc follower lug of the detector assembly.

A new set lever 470 is pinned to a D shaft 471 rotatably mounted in and extending between the plates 323 and 422 and extending outwardly beyond the plate 422. Thearm 240a acts to control the clutch and is connected to the link 239 as an extension of the new set lever 470 extending oppositely from the shaft 471. The new set lever has a cam follower roller 472 selectively engageable with a further cam and the lever is urged toward a following position by a spring, not shown, which is connected at one end to the arm 240a by a pin and which is slidably mounted at its other end in an opening formed in an arm 476. The spring abuts against the arms 240a and 476 to urge the new set lever 470 in a counterclockwise direction. The latch 458 when in its latch position engages a latch lug 477 extending laterally outward toward the plane of the detector disc 432 so as to lie in the plane of the latch 458. v

A two-ball frame latch lever 490 is rotatably mounted on a shaft 491 extending between the plates 323 and 422 outwardly of the latch 458 and new set lever 470 and is also rotatably mounted on the shaft 491. Shaft 491 is termed an A shaft. Extensions 493 and 494 of the latch lever 490 and latch 492, respectively, abut at 495 and are yieldably held in abutting relation by a spring. A spring, not shown, connected between the extension 493 and frame plate 323 urges the latch lever 490 in a clockwise direction about the shaft 491. A follower lug at the end of the latch lever 490 and extending outwardly therefrom follows the detector disc 432 and particularly the portion thereof containing the notch 452.

A two-ball frame lever 502 is fixed to a C shaft 503 rotatably mounted in the plates 323 and 422 and extend ing outwardly from the plate 323. The lever 502 has a cam follower roller 503a which selectively follows a further cam and has an outwardlyvprojecting latch lug 504 lying in the plane of the latch 492 so that the lever 502 may be latched when the latch is in latch position.

Link 155 which is illustrated in FIG. 1 as controlling the rake sweep latch is connected to an arm 510. Arm 510 does not appear in FIG. 1, but a portion thereof is shown at the lower part of FIG. 8 wherein certain elements physically located on the D shaft 471 have been transposed as indicated by the dash-dot line in order to permit illustration on a single drawing sheet. Arm 510 is integral with an arm 419, and this assembly pivots about said D shaft 471.

Arm 419, when moved in a counterclockwise direction about its shaft pivot 471, shifts the link 416 to the right (toward front of the alley) to position a deck hold hook 400 to engage a pin 107 carried by the pinsetting deck, and thus hold the pinsetting deck up so that such deck will not go down again in the second half of the machine cycle to re-set pins. Link 416 acts through the arm 413 to position deck hook 400. A further arm 403 is integral. with arm 413. Such further arm, when rotated clockwise about pivot 401 by shifting a link 406 to the left may also effect a clockwise rotation of the deck hold hook 400 to engage the deck pin 107.

According to the invention an auxiliary practice bowling solenoid 10 30 is rigidly attached to the left-hand upstanding portion of plate 422, as indicated in FIG. 8. The solenoid armature is connected by a link 1032 to an extension arm 10-2 8. Arm 1028 is firmly attached to the extension 494 of the two ball frame latch 492 so as to be integral therewith, by any convenient means such as welding, crimping, clamping, one-piece construction, or the like.

Upon energization of solenoid 1030, with the pinsetter positioned at 0 degrees, first ball, the link 1032 is pulled to the left as viewed in FIG. 8 (toward rear of alley) pulling extension arm 1028 in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot point on the detector A shaft 491. This action rotates both the two ball frame latch 492 and the two ball frame latch lever 490 counterclockwise about shaft 491.

It may be noted at this point that latch 492 and latch lever 490 are sometimes designated as the standing pins selector and standing pins controller, respectively.

FIG. 8 shows a pinsetting machine with the practice bowling solenoid attached thereto and energized. This causes latch 492 and latch lever 490 to rotate counterclockwise and thus assume the unique relation illustrated in the drawing with respect to the director cam 432 and the several associated levers, latches, and cams which does not ever occur during any portion of the normal bowling machine cycle.

The two ball frame latch 492 or standing pins selector is moved under the latch lug projection 504 on the two ball frame lever 502 or standing pins cam follower, allowing the cam follower roller 503a to be spring urged in a clockwise direction, contacting the detector timing cam 449 and rotating the elements 502 and 476 clockwise about the C shaft 503.

When the C shaft is rotated clockwise, the 2nd ball light lights, the 090 stop selector 275 moves clockwise and link 275 moves up, deck holding hook selector elements including link 406 and arm 403, deck holding hook 400, and the rake overtravel selector cam lever 378 lowers rake overtravel latch lever 373. The rake overtravel latch should be allowed to be spring urged by spring 370 down in front of the latch block 375 on the outer rake cam follower arm 366 when the C shaft is rotated clockwise. This is accomplished by taking out shims behind the latch block 375 if necessary. This will hold the rake up while the machine rotates to overtravel after the shadow ball solenoid is energized.

When the C shaft is rotated clockwise the 0-90 stop selector 275 moves to allow the selector latch 267 to be urged up by link 276, allowing the roll 266 on the clutch reset lever arm 2-60 to be spring urged clockwise by spring 263 to engage the calm follower roller 261 on it with the outer extended cycle cam 262. This cam follower contacts the low dwell of the outer extended cycle cam, :which causes the clutch reset lever arm 242 to raise the clutch actuator trigger link 234, rotating the multiarm lever pivoted at 221 counterclockwise which rotates the clutch dash-pot plunger lever arm 222 and the release lever arm 231 counterclockwise, and also the stop arm 220 counterclockwise from under the clutch lever roller 219, engaging the clutch, causing the machine to cycle to 90 overtravel 'when it is again stopped by the influence of the reset lever cam follower 261 rising to a high dwell on the outer extended cycle cam 262 which lowers the reset-arm 242, and because of the engagement between the trigger 2 43 and pin 241, causes lowering of the trigger link 234 which rotates the multi-arm lever clockwise to position the stop arm 220 under the clutch roller 219.

In the foregoing description and that which follows, the several elements and reference numerals not illustrated in FIG. 8 are those of the Huck et a1. Patents No. 2,946,591 or 2,949,300 which are incorporated herein by reference.

The reason that the pinsetter does not set a new set of pins at 270, with no pins on the alley is this: First, most of the movements of the pinsetter are normal 90 overtravel movements such as, the deck being held up by the deck holding hook and the rake sweeping the existing pins off before the deck lowers at 270. The abnormal features of the cycle are that while the deck is being held up by the deck holding hook, at approximately the pin gripping deck scissors close and open again at 270. As the deck lowers on its short stroke, being as the pinsetter goes through its cycle, it will continue to a normal 90 overtravel with the deck scissor cam follower blocked out at approximately 90. Now when the machine is triggered by the reset solenoid 580, it will set new pins, and stop at first ball waiting for ball impact.

These reactions of the pinsetter are controlled by the following conditions: When the A shaft 491 is rotated counterclockwise by the shadow ball solenoid, with the pinsetter at 0, the standing pin selector 492 moves under the projection block 504 on the standingpins cam follower arm 502. Now the A shaft 'is rotated still further counterclockwise more than normal, with the standing pin selector 492 under-the projection block 504. The standing pins cam follower roller 503a is spring urged clockwise to seek contact with the detector timing cam 449. By the projection block being over the end of the standing pins selector, and the camfollower roller seeking the low dwell of the timing cam 449, the selector Will not be released or unlocked until the cam follower reaches the high dwell of the cam 449 again. This will occur at approximately 180.

While the standing pins selector or frame latch 492 is being held under the standing pins cam follower or two-ball frame lever 50 2, this selector, 'at the same time, is contacting the dowel like projection 578 on the strike selector 458, which is mounted on the B shaft 455 mak- 'ing it impossible for the strike selector latch to rise above l-ug 477 when the normal cycle time comes, to let the strike cam follower 472 seek the low dwell of the further timing cam. This blocking action of the strike selector, 458, standing pin selector 492, and strike cam follower arm 502 from 0 to approximately 180, is the reason the moving deck is blocked out of operation and the scissors work when they are not needed.

Because the deck does not make the long stroke at 270,

, selector is held in its proper position so the pin 232 in the clutch release multi-arm lever army231 will not drop out of the open slot 233 in the clutch actuator trigger link 234. This prevents the pinsetter from stopping at 180.

After the shadow ball practice bowling solenoid 1030 is energized the pinsetter is triggered either by ball impact, or reset solenoid, and immediately the two solenoid units S mounted between the cushion hold-up plates 1000 are energized. As the rake lowers to the alley the pit cushion raises, due to the pair of rods 130 connected to hell crank lever 126 mounted on the top of the machine. Bell crank 126 is coupled to the rake lift shaft, and also moves the rake by means of rods 125 on either side. Rods 130 and 125 have slotted link clevises on the ends that connect to lever 126, which will slide on the fastening pins if necessary. When the pit cushion is raised, the cushion hold-up plates 1000 on either side rotate, allowing the cross-bars 1018 of the cushion hold-up solenoids to raise in front of the projection notches 1026 on the hold-up plates. As the pinsetter cycles back to 0, the projection notches on the hold-up plates contact the cross bars of the solenoids, stopping the pit cushion from lowering all the way. This holds the cushion high enough for balls to pass under it. At-the same time the machine continues through its cycle to 90 overtravel. The rake is spring urged by 118 to its normal raised position with no restriction due to the fact that the pins in the bell crank lever will slide in the slotted links clevis ends of the lift rods on the top end.

With the cushion raised, the triggering mechanism will 10 not function, due to the fact that the tip-rod arrangement 139, 140 is pulled too far out of range to trigger the clutch and control means of the pinsetter.

Practice bowling can now take place until the two solenoids between the cushion hold-up plates are tie-energized.

Then when the reset solenoid is energized the pinsetter As the rake lowers to the alley, the cushion will cycle. hold-up plates will rotate to their highest lift position (FIG. 5) allowing the solenoid cross-bars to drop down away from the projection notches in the cushion hold-up plates. As the machine cycles it will return to its normal position on 1st ball with 10 pins on the alley, waiting for the bowler to throw his 1st ball.

A comparison of FIGS. 5 and 7 will indicate that the pit cushion is not elevated to its fullest height when it is retained in the practice bowling position by the solenoids S, as evidenced by the relative positions of the hold-up plates 1000 and cushion support arms 136. The particular height at which the pit cushion is held during the practice bowling mode of operation is determined in part by the contour of the end portion of the plate 1000, including .the shape and location of the latch notch 1026 thereof,

and in part by the location along the frame member 141 at which the solenoid housing 1008 is attached.

The pit cushion height for practice bowling is an important factor in carrying out the invention. It should be held at less than its full height so that a greater area thereof will be available to absorb the impact of the ball as it leaves the surface of the alley, yet be raised sufiiciently so that the ball may pass freely to the rear of the pit to enter the ball elevating and return mechanism. At such practice bowling height all balls rolled at normal speeds will be stopped momentarily by the cushion before rolling under and behind it.

On occasion, a ball rolled at a certain speed might roll under the cushion without being slowed thereby, with possible minor damage to either the ball or the ball return mechanism. A ball of slower than average speed would be the type which could lead to this situation.

A ball curtain 1034 may be provided behind the cushion in front of the ball and pin elevating mechanisms as indicated in FIG. 1. Curtain 1034 is of a sufficient length to reach from one side of the pit to the other. It is suspended from a transverse curtain rod 1036 at its upper edge, while the lower edge swings free to permit ball passage. Rod 1036 is attached at each end, as by the U-bolt shown, to a bracket 1038 which is secured to an existing triangular shaped protective plate 1040 which is spaced slightly in front of the annular ball elevator at each side of the pinsetting machine.

The cushion hold-up solenoids S and the practice bowling solenoid 1030 which alters the normal machine cycle are energized from 24 to' 110 volts as available from the pinsetter. As shown in FIG. 9, which is a fragmentary detail of the complete electrical schematic wiring diagram of an automatic pinsetting machine as illustrated at FIG- URE 9 of the Huck et a1. Patent 2,949,300 aforementioned, a practice bowling control switch 1042 will be provided for each pinsetter, and may conveniently be remotely located at the central control desk of the bowling alley operator along with the conventional control switches and counters which are provided for each numbered alley or lane. In addition, a duplicate parallel-wired control switch may be optionally located at the rear of the pinsetter for the convenience of the pit attendant or maintenance mechanic.

Any form of multi-position switch may be used; toggle, rotary, etc. and should provide a minimum of four sequential positions. Appropriate wiring or cable means will be provided to interconnect the practice bowling control switch with the existing wiring of the pinsetting machine.

The control switch should provide the following sequence of electrical connections proceeding in a clockwise manner as shown:

Position #1: A normally open, single pole switch of 1 i the pressure contact non-locking type which is springurged back to position #2.

Position #2: OFF.

Position #3: A normally open, single pole switch of the pressure contact non-locking type which is springurged back to position #2.

Position #4: A normally open, single pole switch of the fixed contact locking type.

The switch contacts of position #1 are used to energize the practice bowling solenoid 1030 only; the contacts of position #3 are used to energize the existing reset solenoid 580 of the control center of the pinsetter machine; While those of the position.#4 energize both of the cushion hold-up solenoids S. For practice bowling operation, with the pinsetter in its first ball, zero degree position, moving the control switch from OFF to the #1 position will momentarily energize solenoid 1030 mounted on the pinsetter moving the extension 1028 to the rear of the machine to position the detector mechanism so that when the switch is moved through #3 to #4' position it will not set any pins during this cycle. Solenoid 1030 is designed for momentary contact rather than continuous duty. Once the extension 1028 is moved to the rear (to the left, as in FIG. 8) it locks in the position. After the control switch has been momentarily placed in the #1 position it is advanced through the #2 and #3 position to #4 where it remains during the practice bowling.

The #3 position momentarily energizes the reset solenoid 580 of the pinsetter, causing the mechanism to cycle. The hold-up solenoid assemblies S utilize continuous duty coils 1014, and in position #4 when the pinsetter reaches approximately 90 degrees of its cycle the cross bars of the solenoid units will be free to move upward from the position illustrated in FIG. 5 where the coil 1014 is not energized. As the pinsetter cycles to approximately 270 degrees the latch notches of the hold-up plates will contact the solenoid cross bar as illustrated in FIG. 7 and hold the cushion up to permit balls to pass under it. The pinsetter continues on through its cycle to a 90 over-travel position, and will not cycle again until the control switch is returned to the OFF position.

When the practice bowling control switch is moved from its #4 position back to the #2 OFF position it momentarily actuates the pinsetter re-set solenoid as it passes through the #3 position, causing the machine to cycle. With the control switch now in OFF position all of the solenoids of the attachment device are de-energized and a normal reset cycle is obtained. At approximately 90 degrees of this cycle the solenoid cross bars of assembly S will drop out of the latches allowing the cushion to be fully lowered in a normal manner. During this cycle the pinsetter will'set ten pins and stop at the zero degree, first ball position ready for normal bowling.

It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described is to be taken as a preferred example of the same and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departure from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim:

1. The combination with a bowling alley equipped with an automatic pinsetting machine and having at least means for picking up standing pins and resetting such pins or a full set of new pins, means for sweeping pins from the alley bed into the pit, means normally blocked by a pit impact cushion for returning rolled balls, and a latch-and-lever control center for directing the cyclic operation of such means; of a practice bowling apparatus to permit the rolling and return of an unlimited number of practice balls comprising, in combination, a practice bowling lever shiftable to enable the machine to successively sweep the pins off the alley bed, block the setting of further pins, and elevate the sweeping means above the alley bed, means for shifting said practice bowling lever and means to maintain said pit cushion in a position which permits balls to enter said ball returning means.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said pinsetter machine control center includes a two-ball frame latch normally shiftable in a first direction to direct the machine to cycle for the rolling of a second ball, and said practice bowling lever is attached to such two-ball frame latch to shift the same in a direction opposite to the normal one.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1 including first electromagnetic means for shifting said practice bowling lever and second electromagnetic means for actuating said pit cushion maintaining means.

4. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said automatic pinsetting machine includes a source of control voltage and said practice bowling apparatus further includes switch actuated circuit means to apply said control voltage to said first and second electromagnetic means.

5. The combination as defined in claim 3 wherein said automatic pinsetting machine includes a source of control voltage and electromagnetic reset means for causing said machine to set a full set of pins on the alley bed, and said practice bowling apparatus further includes switch actuated circuit means to apply said control voltage in sequence to predetermined combinations of said first, second, and reset magnetic means.

6. The combination as defined in claim 5 wherein said switch actuated circuit means comprises a multi-position switch controlling a plurality of individual electric circuit paths, and is positionable to sequentially apply said control voltage over one or more of said paths to said first, second, and reset electromagnetic means.

7. An apparatus for attachment to a bowling alley equipped with an automatic pinsetting machine having ball return means normally blocked by a cyclically elevatable pit cushion, to permit the rolling and return of an unlimited number of practice balls with no standing pins on the alley bed; comprising, in combination, first means to cycle the machine to remove pins from the alley bed, second means to block the normal pinsetting cycle to prevent the setting of further pins, third means to retain the pit cushion in an elevated position to allow rolled balls access from the pit to said ball return means, and control means to actuate said first, second and third means in a predetermined sequence and combination.

8. An apparatus for attachment to a bowling alley equipped with an automatic pinsetting machine having ball return'means normally blocked by a cyclically elevatable pit cushion, to permit the rolling and return of an unlimited number of practice balls with no standing pins on the alley bed; comprising, in combination, first means to cycle the machine to remove pins from the alley bed, second means to block the normal pinsetting cycle to prevent the setting of further pins, third means to retain the pit cushion in an elevated position to allow rolled balls access from the pit to said ball return means, and control means to actuate said first, second and third means in a predetermined sequence and combination, and to thereafter return said automatic pinsetting machine from the practice ball condition to a normal bowling condition.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,468,212 9/1923 Redfield 27343 2,705,146 3/1955 Montooth et al 27343 2,949,300 8/1960 Huck et al. 273-43 3,124,354 3/1964 Asmuth 27354 X 3,153,538 10/1964 Rogers 27343 DELBERT B. LOWE, Primary Examiner. A. O. OECHSLE, Assistant Examiner. 

7. AN APPARATUS FOR ATTACHMENT TO A BOWLING ALLEY EQUIPPED WITH AN AUTOMATIC PINSETTING MACHINE HAVING BALL RETURN MEANS NORMALLY BLOCKED BY A CYCLICALLY ELEVATABLE PIT CUSHION, TO PERMIT THE ROLLING AND RETURN OF AN UNLIMITED NUMBER OF PRACTICE BALLS WITH NO STANDING PINS ON THE ALLEY BED; COMPRISING, IN COMBINATION, FIRST MEANS TO CYCLE THE MACHINE TO REMOVE PINS FROM THE ALLEY BED, SECOND MEANS TO BLOCK THE NORMAL PINSETTING CYCLE TO PREVENT THE SETTING OF FURTHER PINS, THIRD MEANS TO RETAIN THE PIN CUSHION IN AN ELEVATED POSITION TO ALLOW ROLLED BALLS 